Hydraulic press



Patented Jan. 8, 14..

EMERY C. HODGES, OF JULIET, ILLINOIS.

nvnneumc PRESS.

Application filed August 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,170.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EMERY C. Honens, residing at J oliet, Illinois, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hydraulic presses and in particular to presses having a plurality of cylinders which respectively operate different members of moulding apparatus such for example as apparatus for making artificial building blocks, such a press comprising a movable base or platen and independently movable side walls and a stationary abutment head towards and from which the platen and side walls are movable. My especial object is to provide an efiicient valve for controlling the fluid by Which the movements of the mould members are effected. My invention consists in whatever is described by or included within the terms'or scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section with parts in elevation of a press embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in vertical section through the multi-way valve;

Figs. 3, 5 and 6 are horizontal sections showing respectively the various positions of the valve.

The press shown in the drawings has a base block, 10, in which are formed three cylinders, a middle one, 11, and two smaller ones, 12, at each side of the middle one, the middle cylinder containing a piston, 13, which above the base block supports a horizontal platen, 14, and each of the other cylinders containing a piston, 15, which extends through guides, 16, on opposite sides of the platen and above the latter support a rectangular box-like mould member, 17, which is open from top to. bottom and forms the side walls of the mould, the bottom being formed by the top of the platen, 14. The stationary abutment head, 18, is in the form of a cubical block suspended from a cross-bar, 19, which is supported by uprights, 20, from the base block. In the operation of the press thus far described the platen, 14, and the side wall, 17, with the proper quantity of plastic material placed therein are moved upward together to bring the material in the mould against the head, 18, and thereafter the side walls, 17, of the mould are moved upward to clear the latter from the moulded block, this operation comprising a smooth finish of the side surfaces of the block without danger of breaking the corners thereof. The platen is then caused to descend carrying with it the finished block which is removed and the side walls, 17, of the mould being lowered to rest upon the platen, 14, the press is ready for the repetition of the operatlon described. The multi-Way valve which I have invented controls the flow of fluid to cited; the described movement of the mould member and 1 will now describe in detail the construction of that valve and its connections with the several cylinders.

The valve casing or shell, 21, has a spherical interior, and it has an inlet opening, 22, with which is connected a pipe, 23, leading from the pump inlet. From an opening, 24, diametrically opposite the inlet, 22, a pipe, 25, leads to the lower end of the platen cylinder, 11, and from an opening, 26, in the casing about 40 degrees from the opening 24, a pipe, 27, leads which has two branches, 28, that respectively open into cylinders. 12.

At a point between the inlet, 22, and the opening, 26, the casing 21, has an outlet opening, 29, from which a pipe, 30, leads. Within the casing, 21, is the valve plug, 30, in the form of a ball or globe, that is rotatable in the casing on an axis or pivots which comprise diametrically opposite mem here one being a stem, '31, which passes outwardly through a hole in the casing, 21, and outside of the latter has a handle, 32, for revolving the plug and the other pivot being a rounded boss or projection, 33, which fits a correspondingly shaped hearing cavity, 34, in the casing. The casing is made in symmetrical halves which by bolts, 36, are secured together on a plane coincident with the axis on which the plug turns. Plug, 30, has a diametrically extending bore, 37 at right angles to the axis of revolution of the plug which when the plug is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 establishes communication between the inlet, 22, and the outlet, 24, so that fluid under pressure is delivered to the cylinder, 11, and

thereby platen, 14, and the side walls, 17 of the mould are lifted to the head, 18. Passing through the plug, 30, obliquely to the hole, 37 and to one side of the center of the plug is a hole, 38, which by the turning of the plug to the position shown in Fig. 4 may have its ends brought into coincidence with the inlet, 22, and the outlet, 26, (at which time the hole 37 is moved out of alinement with the inlet, 22, and the outlet, 24) so that the fluid under pressure may flow through the hole, 38, to the cylinder, 12, so as to cause the upward movement of the side walls, 17 of the mould while the pressure is held upon the material in the mould by the platen, 14, thefluid introduced into the cylinder, 11, being trapped therein. By turning the plug 30, to bring the end of the hole, 38, which in Fig. 4 alines with the outlet, 26, to the outlet, 24,to the cylinder, 11, the other end of the hole, 38, will be brought to the waste outlet, 29, as shown in Fig. 5 and the fluid in the cylinder, 11, will then be discharged therefrom, and the platen, 14, with the finished product will descend, but the side walls, 17 will be retained in their elevated position by the pressure in the cylinders, 12, which is still maintained. The descent of the platen, 13, being completed and the now finished block removed then the plug, 30 is turned to the position shown in ig. 6 to bring the peripheral end of a short hole, 39, in the plug to the hole, 26, which leads to the two cylinders, 12, which short hole, 39, extends obliquely and intersects the hole, 38, and at the same time one end of the hole, 37, is brought to the waste hole, 29, so that by means of the hole, 39, a portion of the hole, 38, and a portion of the hole, 37, the cylinders, 12, are placed in communication with the waste opening, 29 so that the side walls, 17, of the mould may descend. At the time the hole, 39, is at the passage, 26, one end of the hole, 38, is at the passage, 24, which leads to the cylinder, 11, so that simultaneously all the cylinders are in communication with the waste passage, 29.

The various passages in the casing or housing, 21, and the holes or ports through the plug lie in the same plane which is at right angles to the axis of revolution of the l/Vhat ll claim 1s: 1. In a hydraulic press the combination of two independently movable members,

separate hydraulic cylinders for the several at both ends upon the periphery of the plug and adapted to establish communication between the supply passage and another cylinder connected passage and a port that extends from the periphery of the plug into one of said other ports and has its peripheral end positioned to be at one of said cylto the cylinders, a port that opens at both ends upon the periphery of the plug and adapted to establish communication between the supply passage and another cylinder connected passage, and a port that extends from the periphery of the plug into one of said other ports and has its peripheral end positioned to be at one of said cylinder connected passages when one end of said first mentioned port is at the waste outlet, all

of said passages and ports being in the same plane.

3. In a hydraulic press the combination of two independently movable members, separate hydraulic cylinders for the several members, a valve having separate passages connected with the several cylinders and having supply and discharge passages, and a valve plug having a port that opens at both ends upon the periphery of the plug, and adapted to establish communication between the supply passage and one of the passages to the cylinders, a port that opens at both ends upon the periphery of the plug and adapted to establish communication between the supply passage and another cylinder connected passage and a port that extends from the periphery of the plug into one of said other ports and has its peripheral end positioned to be at one of said cylinder connected passages when one end of said first mentioned port is at the waste outlet, said plug being globular.

4. In a hydraulic press thev combination of two independently movable members, separate hydraulic cylinders for the several members, a valve having separate passages connected with the several cylinders and having supply and discharge passages, and a valve plug having a port that opens at both ends upon the eriphery of the plug, and adapted to establish communication between the supply passage and one of the passages to the cylinders, a port that opens at both ends upon the periphery of the plug llti . and adapted to establish communication besaid first mentioned port is at the waste outtween the supply passage and another cylin- 1et, said plug being globular, and said der connected passage and a port that expassages and ports lying in the same plane. 10

tends from the periphery of the plug into In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my 5 one of said other ports and has its 'periphsignature.

eral end positioned'to be atone of said cylinder connected passages when one end of EMERY C. HODGES. 

